[Blindmath] To all you blind physics experts

[Louis Maher]

Amanda,

I did Braille out the book pages for the next day's lesson, both words and
equations, and bound them in three-ring binders.  Usually I did not take
them to class.  I would listen to the lecture, and try to keep up with what
was being written on the board.  My professors and classmates were very
understanding for I had a Perkins brailler to take notes in class.  The
professors were willing to be trained to talk as they wrote, and to not use
pronouns such as this and that.

Brailling the book was very time consuming, and added an extra couple of
hours to each day.

I had some sight at that time, and I turned in my homework using a heavy-led
pencil and two inch high letters.  The homework was mostly math and not
words.

I used a typewriter for non-mathematical courses.

You will be slower than your counterparts; however, eventually you can get
it done.





Regards
Louis Maher
713-444-7838
ljmaher at swbell.net
http://www.nfbtx.org/localchapters/houston  


-----Original Message-----
From: Amanda Lacy [mailto:lacy925 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 11:23 AM
To: ljmaher at swbell.net; Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] To all you blind physics experts

Lois,

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't learn as much from spoken
words. I end up writing down all the equations from the book. Would you
Braille these out and take them with you to class, and did this help you in
lecture?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis Maher" <ljmaher at swbell.net>
To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'" 
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] To all you blind physics experts


> If possible, I read the class material before I got to class.  I know 
> this is another large time commitment.
>
> I had some vision, and I used this reduced vision, along with the 
> Learning Ally book, to braille out my text book at four pages an hour.  
> I could only learn from braille not sound.  If possible, get the book 
> in Braille if not at least electronically on a Braille display.  I 
> know this is very difficult.
>
>
> Regards
> Louis Maher
> 713-444-7838
> ljmaher at swbell.net
> http://www.nfbtx.org/localchapters/houston
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Amanda Lacy
> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 12:23 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: [Blindmath] To all you blind physics experts
>
> There seem to be several of you on here, so I am hoping for some 
> advice even though this isn't exactly about math.
>
> I am currently in general physics II and beginning to struggle. My 
> physics professor (Prof. Underwood) says that the units which will 
> probably be the hardest for me are electromagnetism (the one we're on 
> now) and optics. I have the book from Learning Ally and write down all 
> the homework problems and important equations on the computer. I've 
> also started experimenting with one of Prof. Baldwin's programs in 
> order to emboss important diagrams and follow along in class. I try to ask
lots of questions during Prof.
> Baldwin's office hours, in class, and in lab. I have a tactile drawing 
> pad and at least two people who give me pieces of there time and 
> expertise when they can, but still I am lost in class. The subject 
> matter is so visual that Prof. Underwood is often drawing and 
> redrawing complex things on the board as he lectures. Then I hear such 
> tantalizing statements as, "learn this right-hand rule," or "this very 
> important concept explains how an electric motor works." I hadn't 
> followed whatever it was which led to such statements. At the end of 
> class, my unanswered questions are often more numerous than they had 
> been at the beginning. As a consequence of not following lecture, some 
> of my homework looks completely unfamiliar to me so that I have no 
> idea how to proceed. Prof. Underwood is talking about building some 3D 
> models for me. He is really doing the best he can and sometimes seems 
> unsure what to do with me. I don't always know what to do with me 
> either.
>
> If any of you can describe strategies you used which did not rely on 
> vision, I would be grateful. I am genuinely curious about what I'm 
> supposed to be studying. If I can satisfy that curiosity, then the A 
> will come on its own, as it always does.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Amanda
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